2009 Philippine BAR EXAM Result : San Beda Ruled

The very moment that I am writing this post, I am 100% sure that  1,451 new lawyers are celebrating their victory for the much coveted Philippine Bar Exam. 24.58% made it, or 1,451 out of  5,903 who took it last September 2009. However, 4,452 souls right now are in limbo, maybe in a state of shock, crying, or maybe still absorbing the neglectful moment of their loss. 

I was there on Taft Avenue last 04 October 2009 waiting for the barristers from different schools to go out the gate of La Salle. I was one of those who flooded Taft Avenue for the “Bar Salubong” as we joyfully welcome our barristers from San Beda who just hurdled the one-month most tedious, and toughest examination in the country. People were shouting, screaming, singing, dancing ala mardi gras, drum-rollings as we welcome the would-be lawyers. It was an awesome experience.

And now, five months later, the results are in. Philippine’s Top Law Schools or the Big Three - San Beda, Ateneo and UP are anxious to know which of their bets made it to the mythical Top Ten. Not surprisingly, San Beda got it, not only once but twice, as Reinier Paul R. Yebra claimed the top spot with an average of  84.80%, followed by a fellow Bedan, Charlene Mae C. Tapic with an 84.60% grade. What a great feat for the San Beda Law, indeed!!!

Worth mentioning is an impressive showing of Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines in the Top Ten. Ateneo has a whopping seven barristers who made it to the Top Ten while UP has two. Here is the complete list of those who made it to the Top Ten. 

1st Place
Reinier Paul R. Yebra
San Beda College
84.80%

2nd Place
Charlene Mae C. Tapic
San Beda College
84.60%

3rd Place
Lim, John Paul T.
Ateneo de Manila University
84.50%

4th Place
Lagos, Caroline P.
University of the Philippines
84.40%

5th Place
Tan, Eric David C.
Ateneo de Manila University
84.05%

6th Place
Gonzalez, Yves-Randolph P.
Ateneo de Manila University
83.90%

7th Place
To, Joan Mae S.
Ateneo de Manila University
83.65%

8th Place
Bagro III, Herminio C.
University of the Philippines
83.40%

9th Place
Lumauig, Timothy Joseph N.
Ateneo de Manila University
83.20%

10th Place
Bainto, Naealla Rose M.
Go, Sheila Abigail O.
Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
83.10%

Congratulations to the Top Ten and to all who passed the Bar. I’m just hoping that passing the bar isn’t the end of your quest for knowledge, it’s just the beginning. I believe that the knowledge that law students get from law school is only 30%; the remaining 70% comes from practicing the profession (experience).

And hey, before I forget, may you, new lawyers, will always remember the Code of Professional Responsibility and Code of Judicial Conduct which you learned in law school because you are now a public figure and people are now keeping an eye on all of you. May you  continue to keep the profession in the rightful pedestal it now stands today.